Places I love
Food scene
Great, dog friendly patio when the weather is nice. Fantastic deli for lunch. Dinner is a limited menu and pricey, but worth the splurge. Usually has live music on weekend nights. Jazz brunch on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Order the cream cheese and crackers with the sweet green chile sauce for happy hour snacks. Pick up a few bottles in the store to give to friends back home.
7 locals recommend
Pecos Flavors Winery & Bistro
412 W 2nd StGreat, dog friendly patio when the weather is nice. Fantastic deli for lunch. Dinner is a limited menu and pricey, but worth the splurge. Usually has live music on weekend nights. Jazz brunch on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Order the cream cheese and crackers with the sweet green chile sauce for happy hour snacks. Pick up a few bottles in the store to give to friends back home.
Delicious food, relaxed atmosphere. Located downtown, South of the courthouse. Usually has art from local artists on display, and sometimes has local musicians playing.
7 locals recommend
Stellar Coffee Co
315 N Main StDelicious food, relaxed atmosphere. Located downtown, South of the courthouse. Usually has art from local artists on display, and sometimes has local musicians playing.
In addition to delicious frozen custards, they have homemade soups in the fall and winter, and coconut ice tea all year.
Classics Frozen Custard
3009 N Main StIn addition to delicious frozen custards, they have homemade soups in the fall and winter, and coconut ice tea all year.
Traditional New Mexican food and reasonable prices. Locally owned for 30+ years. Closed on Sundays.
Martin's Capitol Cafe
110 W 4th StTraditional New Mexican food and reasonable prices. Locally owned for 30+ years. Closed on Sundays.
They make fresh guacamole at your table when you order it.
6 locals recommend
Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen
2103 N Main StThey make fresh guacamole at your table when you order it.
Cowboy Cafe
1120 E 2nd StYummy, simple food in portions big enough to feed a crowd.
Brewery with pub style food and games. Tends to be a younger crowd. Occasional karaoke nights.
Black Cock Brewery
1719 Southeast Main StreetBrewery with pub style food and games. Tends to be a younger crowd. Occasional karaoke nights.
Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro
1208 N Main StDelicious food, great service. Happy hour on the patio.
Sightseeing
Must see
During the summertime, enjoy non-motorized boating in your kayak or canoe, camp, fish, picnic, swim, hike, go birding or even scuba dive! The unique lakes at this park are sinkholes, ranging from 17 to 90 feet deep. The greenish- blue color created by aquatic plants is what gives the lakes the illusion of great depth. Great spot for photos year round.
Park Elevation 3,617 ft
21 locals recommend
Bottomless Lakes State Park
545A Bottomless Lakes RdDuring the summertime, enjoy non-motorized boating in your kayak or canoe, camp, fish, picnic, swim, hike, go birding or even scuba dive! The unique lakes at this park are sinkholes, ranging from 17 to 90 feet deep. The greenish- blue color created by aquatic plants is what gives the lakes the illusion of great depth. Great spot for photos year round.
Park Elevation 3,617 ft
This protected wetlands is a great place to enjoy the vast New Mexico sky. Go an hour before sunset to see the migratory birds landing on the water.
Spring - songbirds
Summer- shore and marsh birds
Fall - Raptors
Early September - dragonflies and damselflies
Winter - cranes and waterfowl
7 locals recommend
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
4200 E Pine Lodge RdThis protected wetlands is a great place to enjoy the vast New Mexico sky. Go an hour before sunset to see the migratory birds landing on the water.
Spring - songbirds
Summer- shore and marsh birds
Fall - Raptors
Early September - dragonflies and damselflies
Winter - cranes and waterfowl
Ruins of a one room schoolhouse. All that remains of the ghost town of Acme, NM. 17 miles Northeast of Roswell.
Frazier School
7567 Clovis HighwayRuins of a one room schoolhouse. All that remains of the ghost town of Acme, NM. 17 miles Northeast of Roswell.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Roadside art installation, modeled after the brothers who own the land. On the way to Albuquerque or Santa Fe (if you’re heading that way).
US Highway 285
US Highway 285Roadside art installation, modeled after the brothers who own the land. On the way to Albuquerque or Santa Fe (if you’re heading that way).
Family fun
Unexpectedly wonderful collection for a town this size due to the Roswell Artist in Residence program.
10 locals recommend
The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art
409 E College BlvdUnexpectedly wonderful collection for a town this size due to the Roswell Artist in Residence program.
Nice permanent collection of art, with various exhibits visiting throughout the year. There’s also a replica of Robert H. Goddard’s workshop (built the first liquid fueled rocket). And if it’s open, the planetarium is definitely worth it.
12 locals recommend
Roswell Museum & Art Center
1011 N Richardson AveNice permanent collection of art, with various exhibits visiting throughout the year. There’s also a replica of Robert H. Goddard’s workshop (built the first liquid fueled rocket). And if it’s open, the planetarium is definitely worth it.
Walking distance from the Airbnb! Indoor and outdoor pools, depending on the season. Extremely reasonably priced option (under $20 for a family day pass). Bicycles can be rented here for the day.
Roswell Recreation & Aquatic Center
1402 W College BlvdWalking distance from the Airbnb! Indoor and outdoor pools, depending on the season. Extremely reasonably priced option (under $20 for a family day pass). Bicycles can be rented here for the day.
Walking distance from the Airbnb! Great park for the kids. Skate park nearby. Walking trail loops around the entire area. Airbnb is across the street from the walking trail.
Cielo Grande Recreation Area
Walking distance from the Airbnb! Great park for the kids. Skate park nearby. Walking trail loops around the entire area. Airbnb is across the street from the walking trail.
Area 52
1008 W Tilden St15,000 square foot of indoor and outdoor laser tag.
One of the original homes from when the town was first settled. A perfect educational field trip for an afternoon. Open daily 12 - 4. Staffed by volunteers and free to the public.
Historical Society For Southeast New Mexico
200 N Lea AveOne of the original homes from when the town was first settled. A perfect educational field trip for an afternoon. Open daily 12 - 4. Staffed by volunteers and free to the public.
A working farm with fresh picked produce when it’s in season. During the day on weekends in October they throw a fall festival with hayrides and pumpkin picking. After dark the pumpkin patch becomes a zombie apocalypse and the hay ride drives you to shoot paintballs at zombies.
Graves Farm & Garden
6265 South Graves RoadA working farm with fresh picked produce when it’s in season. During the day on weekends in October they throw a fall festival with hayrides and pumpkin picking. After dark the pumpkin patch becomes a zombie apocalypse and the hay ride drives you to shoot paintballs at zombies.
Shopping
Some fun stores to check out
Hippie Chicks
802 South Main StreetLocally made soaps, beard oils, and the occasional quirky souvenir.
Rustic Essentials Soap Shop & Factory
125 North Main StreetLocally made soaps, beard oils, and the occasional quirky souvenir.
City advice
Getting around
Public transport isn’t readily available in Roswell.
And crosswalks are not taken as seriously as you might want. Look both ways.
Travelling with kids
Avoid the zoo.
It’s a very small collection. The animals are in awful living conditions, and the city keeps getting cited for it. Last year a bear escaped!